Device for laying underground wires.



' J. M. JONES. I DEVICE FOR LAYING UNDERGROUND WIRES.

. 1PI=LIUATION- FILED SEPT. 21, 1910. 983,373. Patented Feb. 7,1911.

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STATES PATEN FFICE.

JAMES MELVIN JONES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MELVIN JONES, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing at at Henry street, Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Device forLaying Underground Wires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for laying underground wires, and moreparticularly to such devices which are employed for threading telephoneand like wires through pipes or conduits laid beneath the pavement orroad surface.

Usually telephone and like wires are laid by firstly threading a longrod or length of coupled rods through a street inspection-box attachingthe wire at the outer end thereof and then withdrawing said rod, orlength of rods, through the next inspection-box and so on until theentire length of wire is laid.

The object of my invention is to dispense with the use of rods whichfrequently get damaged or broken, as well as to save time by doing awaywith the coupling and uncoupling operations.

A further object of my invention is to facilitate the laying ofunderground wires.

I accomplish the foregoing objects by employing a length of metal chainthe links of which are adapted, when laid in a straight line, to abutfirn'lly end to end and thereby form a more or less rigid member whichmay be easily threaded through an underground pipe or conduit, meansbeing fitted in connection with the leading links to insure absoluterigidity thereof, and at the tail link for the attachment thereto of thewire to be laid.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a broken side view of the improved device.Fig. 2, is a plan of the same with parts broken away or in section forthe sake of clearness. Fig. 3, is a section to an enlarged scale, on theline, aa, in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a side view to an enlarged scale of oneof the link elements detached.

Like reference numerals designate the same parts in the severalillustrations.

1, 1, are links which are preferably made of channel cross-section asclearly shown by Fig. 3, and the side members thereof at one end 2, areslightly compressed while at the other end 3, they are expanded, andboth are furnished with longitudinally projecting lugs or cars, 1, 4.These lugs, t, a, at the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1910.

Patented Feb. '7, 1911.

Serial No. 583,091.

compressed end of each link, 1, are adapted to fit between those at theexpanded end of the next succeeding link as will be clearly seen onexamination of Fig. 2, of the drawings, and they are hinged thereto bypins or rivets 5.

By forming the links, 1, 1, as shown, it will be readily seen that whena length of chain so constructed is laid horizontal, with the sidemembers projecting upwardly, said links, 1, 1, will abut endwise againstthe adjoining link or links at the points or shoulders, 6, 6, andthereby form a more or less rigid and continuous member.

7 is a ferrule or cap piece having a closedin conically shaped end forfixture over the leading two or three links by means of lugs 7 and a pin5, to insure that said links remain horizontal and rigid, and to preventany tendency to turn-up when meeting an obstruction.

8, is an eye-piece connected to or forming part of the tail link 1 andto which the wire to be laid is attached.

Obviously the chain may be made of any desired length or otherappropriate cross section and be fitted with detachable connecting pins5, 5, whereby lengthening or shortening thereof can be easily andexpeditiously effected.

The improved device is very light and can be wound on, or unwound from,a portable winch: and it will be easily understood that it is adapted tobe bent into a conduit in the direction of the arrow, 9, while beingpaidoff from the winding drum; or turned up in the direction of thearrow, 10, when being withdrawn from said conduit at a point ahead ofthat at which it enters therein. Furthermore the adaptability of myimproved device to follow bends or curves in a pipe or conduit will beself evident without further explanation or illustration.

I claim,

1. The combination, in a device for laying underground wires, of achainconsisting of a series of hingedly connected links, the ends of eachsucceeding pair of links when laid in a straight line being adapted toabut firmly together, means for retaining the lead ing links absolutelyrigid, and means for connecting the wire to be laid to the tail link,substantially as set forth.

2. In a device for laying underground wires the combination of a seriesof channel shaped links forming a chain and connected together insequence by hinge pins, av ferrule for fixture over the leading linksprovided With a conically shaped closed-in outer end, and an eye pieceforming part of the tail link, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a device for laying underground Wires andconsisting of a series of hingedly connected channel-shaped links theends whereof are adapted to abut When arranged in a straight-line, of aferrule pro- Vide'd With a conically shaped closed-in end andlongitudinally disposed internally siluated lugs and means whereby saidferrule is fixed to and over the leading links substantially as shown,for the purpose specified. 15 Signed at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,

the 15th day of September, 1910.

J AMES MELVIN JONES.

Vitnesses ALFRED T. Bmr'rox, M. BnUon.

